Ramped connector and blade for use with rotary head assembly

ABSTRACT

A rotary head assembly apparatus, and a cutting blade for use on trimmer rotary head assemblies are disclosed. The rotary head assembly apparatus is configured to easily replace cutting members necessary to cut unwanted plants. The cutting blade is for use on trimmer rotary head assemblies configured to cut unwanted vegetation.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending andcommonly-owned International Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/053801,filed on Aug. 6, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/681,304, filed on Aug. 9, 2012. This application alsoclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/041,945, filedAug. 26, 2014. Each patent application identified above is incorporatedhere by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to rotary head assembly apparatuses andcutting blades designed for use with rotary head assemblies. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to rotary head assemblyapparatuses configured to easily replace cutting members necessary tocut unwanted plants and cutting blades therefor.

BACKGROUND

Presently, there are trimming apparatuses known in the art having arotatable, attachable head for attachment to a powered device, with thehead carrying a series of trimmer lines extending axially out about theperiphery of the head. Examples of such weed trimming apparatusesinclude spool and “bump ‘n’ feed” weed trimming apparatuses withcontinuous-feed trimming line, automatic-feed trimmer head, and trimmingapparatuses using fixed-length pieces of trimming line or blades.However, such weed trimming apparatuses have certain drawbacks whichhave gone largely unaddressed in this technical field.

Both the “bump ‘n’ feed” and automatic trimmer head relies on aninternal spool with trimmer line reserves. Stress on these apparatuses'trimming lines will cause it break from time to time during use. Becauseof their designs, the trimmer lines often get twisted, tangled or buriedwithin the spool making it difficult to dispense the proper line lengthfor cutting. As a result, the trimmer head must then be disassembled,the trimmer string unwound and again rewound in the proper manner beforethe trimmer head will again work as designed. This process is difficult,labor intensive and highly time consuming.

To address the aforementioned problems of the conventional “bump ‘n’feed” and automatic trimmer heads, blades or fixed-length trimmer linepieces have been incorporated into the trimmer head. As the bladesbecome dull or the trimmer lines break, often times, it requireadditional tools and/or a lot of time to replace the worn or brokenpieces. Thus, a need exists for a rotary apparatus that does not tangle,twist, or bind cutting members such as the trimmer lines. Furthermore, aneed exists for a rotary apparatus that does not have to be disassembledto have new strings or other types of cutting members added. Lastly, aneed exists for a rotary apparatus which requires little time and effortto replace the cutting members such as trimmer lines or cutting blades.These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimedbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing, it is apparent there is still a great and long-feltneed for a rotary apparatus, in particular a rotary head assembly, thatprovides quick and easy insertion of a cutting member in order to resumeoperation as well as simple and efficient removal of the cutting memberwhen replacing it. The present invention addresses the foregoing need,amongst other needs, in a highly unique and facile way. Thus, in oneaspect, the present invention provides a novel rotary apparatus,particularly a rotary head assembly from which a cutting member mayextend. Particularly, in at least one of its aspects, this inventionprovides quick and easy insertion of a cutting member in order to resumeoperation of the rotary apparatus. In another aspect, the invention alsofacilitates removal of a cutting member during change out, so that thereis no need to disassemble the rotary head assembly of the rotaryapparatus, as required in other known trimmer apparatuses. The cuttingmember of the present invention can be flexible (e.g. wires, strands,etc.), semi-rigid (e.g. plastic blades), or rigid (e.g. metal blades)and may be made of any material and in any shape capable of cuttingunwanted plants such as weeds. Non-limiting examples of cutting membermaterials include plastics (e.g. nylon), metals, metal alloys, andcombinations thereof.

In one aspect, this invention provides a rotary apparatus comprising arotary head assembly configured for attachment to a rotary power source,wherein the rotary head assembly has at least one cutting memberreceptacle wherein said cutting member receptacle optionally rotates oris fixed onto the rotary head assembly, defines at least one cutterinlet and at least one cutter outlet, wherein the cutter inlet ispositioned opposite the cutter outlet and sized and configured toreceive at least one cutting member and comprises a cutting memberretainer wherein the cutting member retainer is positioned in betweenthe cutter inlet and the cutter outlet comprising a channel extendingfrom the cutter inlet forming a ramp surface which is optionallydeclining or inclining relative to the cutter inlet, so that the cuttingmember may be inserted into the cutter inlet and engaged with thecutting member retainer and retained by the cutting member receptacleuntil it is threaded through the cutter outlet.

In another aspect, this invention provides cutting blades sized andconfigured for easy installation and efficient and effective performancewith particular types of trimmer rotary head assemblies. One particularaspect of the invention provides a cutting blade for use with a rotarytrimmer head assembly configured with one or more swiveling bladeretention members. The blade comprises

an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body formingtwo opposing planar surfaces and the body comprising a trimmer headconnecting end portion and a cutting end portion, the cutting endportion forming at least one cutting edge, and

one or more protrusions extending from the trimmer head connecting endportion laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongatedbody,

wherein either

(a) one of the planar surfaces forms, at the trimmer head connecting endportion an indentation sized to receive at least one cutting memberretainer extending from a component of a trimmer head assembly, or

(b) the trimmer head connecting end portion defines an apertureextending through both of the opposing planar surfaces, the aperturebeing sized to receive at least one cutting member retainer extendingfrom a component of a trimmer head assembly,

so that the blade is detachably coupled to and retained by a respectiveone of the swiveling blade retention members while the blade extendsradially outwardly from the trimmer head assembly during operationalrotation of the rotary trimmer head assembly. In one particular aspectof the invention, each of the one or more protrusions forms a laterallyextending surface which extends out from the elongated body at thetrimmer head connecting end portion, the surface being configured tocontact a respective one of the swiveling blade retention members whenthe cutting member retainer is mated with and received by either theindention of (a) or the aperture of (b) and the blade is urged radiallyoutwardly from the rotary head assembly, e.g., by centrifugal force. Thecutting member retainer may be, e.g., in the form of a ramp having achannel-defining edge configured to catch at least a portion of theblade and prevent the blade from moving radially outwardly from therotary head assembly by, e.g., centrifugal force, when the cuttingmember retainer is mated with either the indentation of (a) or theaperture of (b), as applicable.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of this invention willbe still further apparent from the ensuing description, drawings, andappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 are perspective views and a cross-sectional view of the rotaryhead assembly, the cutting member receptacle, and the cutting membersconsistent with one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary head assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary head assembly, thecutting member receptacle consistent with one aspect of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting member receptacleincluded within FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 are perspective views and a cross-sectional view of the cuttingmember receptacle.

FIG. 5a are exemplary embodiments of the cutting member retainer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rotary head assembly, the cuttingmember receptacle, and the cutting members consistent with one aspect ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6a are perspective views and a cross-sectional view of the cuttingmember receptacle included in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the cuttingmember receptacle.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting member receptacle.

FIG. 9 are perspective views of the cutting member receptacle.

FIG. 10A is a side view of a cutting blade according to one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 10B is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 10A, cut alongline A-A.

FIG. 10D is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 10A, from abovethe device.

FIG. 10E is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 10A, from belowthe device.

FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 11B, cut alongline B-B.

FIG. 11D is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 11A, from abovethe device.

FIG. 11E is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 11A, from belowthe device

FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 12B, cut alongline A-A.

FIG. 12D is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 12A, from abovethe device.

FIG. 12E is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 12A, from belowthe device.

FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 13B, cut alongline B-B.

FIG. 13D is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 13A, from abovethe device.

FIG. 13E is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 13A, from belowthe device.

In each of the above figures, like numerals are used to refer to like orfunctionally like parts among the several figures.

FURTHER DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative implementations of the invention are described below asthey might be employed in the construction and use of a rotary apparatusand related method according to at least one implementation of thepresent invention. It will be of course appreciated that in thedevelopment of such an actual implementation, numerousimplementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effortmight be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routineundertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure. In the detailed description below, general discussionof alternative steps, configurations, features and/or components mayemploy reference to numbered components identified in the accompanyingfigures. However, it should be appreciated that, unless otherwiseexplicitly noted, such alternative steps, configurations, featuresand/or components are not necessarily limited to the particular aspectillustrated in the relevant figures, as the use of such numberreferences in this context is merely for the sake of clarity.

Turning now to the Figures, several illustrative aspects of theapparatus of the present invention are shown. Looking now at FIG. 1, anapparatus comprising a rotary head assembly 10 configured for attachmentto a rotary power source (not shown) is shown. The rotary power sourcemay be any source capable to provide sufficient rotation to cut unwantedplants such as weeds. Non-limiting examples of the rotary power sourceincludes any gas-powered, electric-powered, or battery-powered motorfound on any standard commercial weed trimming device, such as a“weedeater.” The rotary head assembly 10 is sized and configured forattachment to such commercially known weed trimming devices through theuse of an attachment member such as a clamp, bolt, or threaded screw(not shown) through the central member aperture 12 defined by thecentral member 14 of the rotary head assembly.

In one embodiment, the invention comprises the rotary head assembly 10,as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the rotary head assembly has atleast one cutting member receptacle 16 wherein said cutting memberreceptacle is fixed onto the rotary head assembly 10, defines at leastone cutter inlet 18 and at least one cutter outlet 20, wherein thecutter inlet is positioned opposite the cutter outlet and sized andconfigured to receive at least one cutting member 22 and comprises acutting member retainer 24 wherein the cutting member retainer ispositioned in between the cutter inlet and the cutter outlet comprisinga channel 26 extending from the cutter inlet forming a ramp surface 28which is inclining as shown, but may be optionally configured to bedeclining, relative to the cutter inlet, so that the cutting member 22may be inserted into the cutter inlet 18 and engaged with the cuttingmember retainer 24 and retained by the cutting member receptacle 16until it is threaded through the cutter outlet 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the invention of another embodimentcomprises the rotary head assembly 10, defines at least one cuttingmember receptacle 16 a configured to rotate in the same and oppositedirection of the rotary head assembly during use, defines at least onecutter inlet 18 and at least one cutter outlet 20, wherein the cutterinlet is positioned opposite the cutter outlet and sized and configuredto receive at least one cutting member 22 and comprises a cutting memberretainer 24 wherein the cutting member retainer is positioned in betweenthe cutter inlet and the cutter outlet comprising a channel 26 extendingfrom the cutter inlet forming a ramp surface 28 which is inclining asshown, but may be optionally configured to be declining, relative to thecutter inlet, so that the cutting member 22 may be inserted into thecutter inlet 18 and engaged with the cutting member retainer 24 andretained by the cutting member receptacle 16 a until it is threadedthrough the cutter outlet 20.

The cutting member receptacle of the present invention may be spatiallyarranged in any configuration on, in, or combinations thereof with therotary head assembly. In another embodiment, the cutting memberreceptacle may be configured as part of the rotary head assembly or asremovable attachments. In yet another embodiment, the rotary head of thepresent invention may be configured to receive a single cutting memberreceptacle or a plurality of the cutting member receptacles. In yet afurther embodiment, where there are at least two cutting memberreceptacles, each cutting member receptacle may be spatially arranged inany configuration relative to the other, non-limiting examples include,above, below, opposite, next to, within, or combinations thereof.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting member receptacle 16 a portion of thepresent invention may form various shapes and configurations. In oneembodiment, one skilled in the art may shape and configure the cuttingmember receptacle 16 a to receive different types of cutting member suchas a cutting member shaped like a blade 30, wherein said cutting memberof this embodiment has a cutting portion 35 and an attachment portion 40configured to engage and be retained with the cutting member retainer 24until the cutter member as exemplified by the blade 30 is threadedthrough the cutter outlet 20. The cutting member retainer 24 of thepresent invention may be configured in any form or shape to engage andretain the cutting member when in use. FIG. 5a illustrates variousexamples of the cutting member retainer embodiments 24 a, 24 b, 24 c,and 24 d. In one embodiment, the cutting member retainer 24 may beformed similar to a shape of the a portion of the cutting member'sexterior and sized to receive it, non-limiting shapes include circular24 a, angular 24 b and 24 d, rectangular 24 c, oval, combinationsthereof, or any shape capable of retaining the cutting member. Inanother embodiment, the cutting member retainer 24 comprises a concavespace below the cutter outlet 20.

In one embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6 a, a cutting memberreceptacle 16 a configured to receive cutting members 22 such as thosethat are commercial available such as flexible monofilament plastictrimmer lines of any suitable type and cross-sectional configuration,e.g., 0.065, 0.080, 0.095, 0.105, 0.12, 0.13 or 0.15 gauge nylon trimmerline or the like. In a further embodiment, the cutting member receptacle16 a configured to receive a cutting member, such as a trimmer line 22as exemplified in FIG. 6a . In particular, the cutting member receptacle16 a defines at least one cutter inlet 18 and at least one cutter outlet20, wherein the cutter inlet is positioned opposite the cutter outletand sized and configured to receive at least one cutting member 22, andcomprises a cutter member retainer 24 wherein the cutter member retaineris positioned in between the cutter inlet and the cutter outletcomprising a channel 26 extending from the cutter inlet forming a rampsurface 28 which is declining or inclining relative to the cutter inlet,so that the cutting member 22 may be inserted into the cutter inlet andengaged with the cutter member retainer and retained by the cuttermember retainer until it is threaded through the cutter outlet.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the cutting memberreceptacle 16 b is configured to be on top of another cutting memberreceptacle. In yet a further embodiment, the rotary apparatus of thepresent invention may be configured with a singular cutting member or aplurality of cutting members 22, as exemplified in FIG. 7, wherein thecutting members may be the same material, same shape, same texture,different material, different shape, different texture, or combinationsthereof from each other. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the cutting memberreceptacle comprises at least one cutting member 22 a which is aflexible trimmer line and at least one cutting member which is ablade-like 22 b.

In one aspect of the invention as exemplified in FIGS. 8 and 9, thecutting member receptacle 16 comprises a channel 26 comprising of alower channel opening 45, an upper channel opening 50, a lower channeloutlet 55 and an upper channel outlet 60. The distance between the lowerchannel opening 45 and the upper channel opening 50 is configured toreceive the cutting member of choice when inserted through the cutterinlet 18 and the distance between the lower channel outlet 55 and theupper channel outlet 60 is configured to thread the cutting member ofchoice through the cutter outlet 20. In another embodiment, the distancebetween the lower channel opening 45 and the upper channel opening 50 isconfigured to retain the cutting member when the rotary head is in use.In yet another embodiment, the distance between the lower channel outlet55 and the upper channel outlet 60 is configured to retain the cuttingmember when the rotary head is in use. The distance between the lowerchannel opening 45 and the upper channel opening 50 may be the same ordifferent as the distance between the lower channel outlet 55 and theupper channel outlet 60. In a preferred embodiment, the distance betweenthe lower channel opening 45 and the upper channel opening 50 is thesame as the distance between the lower channel outlet 55 and the upperchannel outlet 60. In another preferred embodiment, the distance betweenthe lower channel opening 45 and the upper channel opening 50 isconfigured relative to the distance between the lower channel outlet 55and the upper channel outlet 60 to secure the cutting member when in useand easily removed when threaded through the cutter outlet 20.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the lower channel opening 45 andlower channel outlet 55 are configured relative to one another forming aramp 28 for receiving a cutting member, wherein the ramp may beoptionally inclining or declining relative to the cutter inlet 18. Oneskilled in the art may configure the ramp with respect to theembodiments of the present invention at any angle relative to the cutterinlet 18. In one embodiment on an imaginary axis, when the lower channelopening 45 is positioned lower than the lower channel outlet 55, a ramp28 configured to incline relative to the cutter inlet 18 is formed asexemplified in FIG. 8. In another embodiment on an imaginary axis, whenthe lower channel opening 45 is positioned higher than the lower channeloutlet 55, a ramp configured to decline relative to the cutter inlet 18is formed. In one embodiment on an imaginary axis, where the ramp isinclining relative to the cutter inlet 18, the upper channel opening 50is configured to be level or lower than the lower channel outlet 55. Inanother embodiment on an imaginary axis, where the ramp is decliningrelative to the cutter inlet 18, the lower channel opening 45 isconfigured to be level or higher than the upper channel outlet 60. In apreferred embodiment on an imaginary axis, the lower channel opening 45and the lower channel outlet 55 are positioned to secure the cuttingmember when in use and easily removed when threaded through the cutteroutlet 20 when the rotary head is not in use.

In one embodiment (FIG. 9), a cutting member receptacle 16 configuredand positioned on top of another cutting member receptacle 16. In oneembodiment, the ramp surface 28 comprises at least two side edges 65.The side edges 65 are configured and sized to define at least two sidechannels 70 extending from the cutter inlet to the cutter outlet 20sufficient to receive a cutting member through the cutter inlet andretain the cutting member within the cutting member retainer 24 when inuse and release the cutting member when threaded through the cutteroutlet 20.

In another aspect of the invention, a cutting blade is provided, theblade having a cutting end portion and an attachment end portion, theattachment end portion being sized and configured to engage with and beretained by a cutting member retainer (also referenced herein as a bladeretention member) of the trimmer head assembly. Typically the retainercomponent is configured to retain the blade unless and until the bladeis threaded through a cutter outlet or otherwise uncoupled from thetrimmer head assembly by a manual actuation of the retainer component ora device coupled thereto, so that the blade may be removed througheither the cutter outlet or the cutter inlet.

As noted above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, one aspect of theinvention provides a cutting blade comprising features which workparticularly well with trimmer head assemblies described herein in whicha swiveling component in the form of a swiveling blade retention memberwhich defines the cutting member retainer and swivels relative to therest of the trimmer head. In this way, the blade may be coupled to thetrimmer head and yet swivel relative to the trimmer head. One example ofsuch a swiveling component which can be adapted to receive the blades ofthis aspect of the invention is commercially available and sold as aPIVOTRIM™ trimmer head assembly by BetterHeads, LLC of Pearland, Tex.The blades herein describe are particularly well-suited to a pivotingconnection to the trimmer head assembly, because the pivoting actionprevents damage to the blades during operative rotation of the trimmerhead and blades and contact with the target material to be cut and/orsurrounding objects. Thus, blades illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, as wellas alternative configurations in FIGS. 10A-10E, 11A-11E, 12A-12E and13A-13E, feature the aforesaid advantages. Each of these blades featuresan attachment end portion which defines an aperture or indentationthrough which a cutting member retainer component of the trimmer headassembly may be disposed to couple the blade to the trimmer headassembly and retain the blade so that it will not unintentionallyseparate (e.g., radially outwardly) from the trimmer head duringoperative rotation, e.g., due to centrifugal forces applicable duringnormal use of the associated trimmer. Some of these blades provideadditional structural features which further protect against unintendeddisconnection of the blade from the trimmer head assembly during normalrotational operation.

Turning to FIGS. 10A-10E, different views of a cutting blade inaccordance with one aspect of this invention are illustrated. The blade100 comprises an elongated body 110 forming two opposing surfaces 112and 113 and comprising a trimmer head connecting end portion 114 and acutting end portion 115. The blade forms two opposing blunt cuttingedges 116 and 118, and body 110 defines an elongated, rectangularaperture 119 extending therethrough. A cutter retention member, such as,member 24 of FIG. 8, may extend into aperture 119 when blade 100 isdisposed over and around retention member 24 and coupled thereby to thetrimmer head assembly. Preferably, blade 100 and retention member 24when mated to one another swivel relative to the trimmer head assembly,as noted previously.

FIGS. 11A-11E illustrate another blade in accordance with an alternativeaspect of the invention. A blade 200 comprises an elongated body 210forming two opposing surfaces 212 and 213 and comprising a trimmer headconnecting end portion 214 and a cutting end portion 215. The bladeforms two opposed cutting edges 216 and 218, and body 210 forms anddefines an elongated, rectangular indentation 219. Indentation 219 issized to receive at least one cutting member retainer extending from acomponent of a trimmer head assembly. Blade 200 further comprises twoopposed protrusions 214 a and 214 b extending from trimmer headconnecting end portion 214 laterally relative to the longitudinal axisof elongated body 210. In this way, the blade is detachably coupled toand retained by a respective one of the swiveling blade retentionmembers while the blade extends radially outwardly from the trimmer headassembly during operational rotation of the rotary trimmer headassembly. Each of the protrusions 214 a and 214 b forms a laterallyextending arcuate surface 214 c and 214 d, respectively, each of whichextends out from elongated body 210 at trimmer head connecting endportion 214. These surfaces are configured to contact a swiveling bladeretention member when the cutting member retainer is mated with andreceived by the indentation and the blade is urged radially outwardlyfrom the rotary head assembly, e.g., by centrifugal force. As notedbefore, the cutting member retainer may be, e.g., in the form of a ramphaving a channel-defining edge configured to catch at least a portion ofthe blade and prevent the blade from moving radially outwardly from therotary head assembly by, e.g., centrifugal force, when the cuttingmember retainer is mated with indentation 219.

As seen in FIGS. 12A-12E, an alternative aspect of the inventionprovides a cutting blade 300 comprising an elongated body 310 formingtwo opposing surfaces 312 and 313 and further comprising a trimmer headconnecting end portion 314 and a cutting end portion 315. The bladeforms two opposed cutting edges 316 and 318, and body 310 forms anddefines an elongated, rectangular aperture 319. Aperture 319 is sized toreceive at least one cutting member retainer extending from a componentof a trimmer head assembly. Blade 300 further comprises two opposedprotrusions 314 a and 314 b extending from trimmer head connecting endportion 314 laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of elongatedbody 310. In this way, blade 300 is detachably coupled to and retainedby a respective one of the swiveling blade retention members while theblade extends radially outwardly from the trimmer head assembly duringoperational rotation of the rotary trimmer head assembly. Each of theprotrusions 314 a and 314 b forms a laterally extending arcuate surface314 c and 314 d, respectively, each of which extends out from elongatedbody 310 at trimmer head connecting end portion 314. These surfaces areconfigured to contact a swiveling blade retention member when thecutting member retainer is mated with and received by the indentationand the blade is urged radially outwardly from the rotary head assembly,e.g., by centrifugal force. As noted before, the cutting member retainermay be, e.g., in the form of a ramp having a channel-defining edgeconfigured to catch at least a portion of the blade and prevent theblade from moving radially outwardly from the rotary head assembly by,e.g., centrifugal force, when the cutting member retainer is mated withaperture 319.

FIGS. 13A-13E illustrate another aspect of the invention which is ablade 400 similar to that of FIGS. 12A-12E, except that it defines anaperture 419 which is smaller and of a different shape from that whichis shown in FIGS. 12A-12E, to illustrate one or several alterativeconfigurations which could perform the same function and can beenvisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of therest of this disclosure. Altering the size of the aperture can, in somedesigns, provide additional strength to the connecting end portion ofthe blade material, to prevent it from breaking during blade (e.g.,cutting end portion) contact with vegetation or surround objects duringrotational operation of the trimmer head assembly to which each blade iscoupled, in some aspects of the invention preferably so as to swivelrelative thereto. In this configuration, the blade retention member maynot necessarily be in the form of a ramp, but instead may be a pin orother device extending from a component of the trimmer head assembly soas to engage with aperture 419 to retain the blade in coupled engagementwith the trimmer head assembly during normal rotational operation.

Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article “a” or “an”if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not beconstrued as limiting, the description or a claim to a single element towhich the article refers. Rather, the article “a” or “an” if and as usedherein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the textexpressly indicates otherwise.

Each and every patent or other publication or published documentreferred to in any portion of this specification is incorporated in totointo this disclosure by reference, as if fully set forth herein.

This invention is susceptible to considerable variation within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising a rotary head assembly,wherein the rotary head assembly comprises at least one cutting memberreceptacle wherein said cutting member receptacle: (i) rotates relativeto the rotary head assembly; (ii) defines at least one cutter inlet, atleast one cutter outlet, and at least one channel extending from thecutter inlet to the cutter outlet, wherein the cutter inlet ispositioned opposite the cutter outlet and is sized and configured toreceive at least one cutting member; and (iii) comprises a cuttingmember retainer, wherein the cutting member retainer is positioned inbetween the cutter inlet and the cutter outlet, said cutting memberretainer having a channel-defining edge configured to catch at least aportion of the at least one cutting member when within the at least onechannel so that the cutting member can be inserted into the cutter inletand engaged with the cutting member retainer and retained by the cuttingmember receptacle until it is threaded through the cutter outlet.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting member rotates inthe same and opposite direction of the rotary head assembly during use.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting member isfixed to the cutting member receptacle of the rotary head assemblyduring use.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cutting member isselected from the group consisting of a flexible, semi-rigid, and rigidmaterial.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one channelis defined at least in part by a lower channel opening and an upperchannel opening, a lower channel outlet, and an upper channel outlet. 6.The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the distance between the lower channelopening and the upper channel opening is configured to receive thecutting member through the cutter inlet.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the distance between the lower channel outlet and the upperchannel outlet is configured to thread the cutting member through thecutter outlet.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the distance betweenthe lower channel opening and the upper channel opening is configured tobe optionally the same as or different from the distance between thelower channel outlet and the upper channel outlet.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the distance between the lower channel opening and theupper channel opening is configured the same as the distance between thelower channel outlet and the upper channel outlet to retain the cuttingmember when in use and to easily remove the cutting member when threadedthrough the cutter outlet.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein thelower channel opening and the lower channel outlet are configuredrelative to each other to form a ramp surface for receiving and securingthe cutting member.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cuttingmember retainer is in the form of a ramp having a ramp surface, whereinthe ramp surface is inclining relative to the point of entry of thecutting member into the cutting member receptacle.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the cutting member retainer is in the form of a ramphaving a ramp surface, wherein the ramp surface is declining relative tothe point of entry of the cutting member into the cutting memberreceptacle.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 or 12, wherein the rampsurface comprises at least two side edges configured and sized to defineat least two side channels extending from the cutter inlet to the cutteroutlet to receive the at least one cutting member through the cutterinlet and retain the cutting member within the cutting member retainerwhen in use and release the cutting member when threaded through thecutter outlet.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cutting memberretainer is in the form of a ramp having a ramp surface, wherein saidramp surface is either inclining or declining relative to a point ofentry of the at least one cutting member into the cutting memberreceptacle so that the at least one cutting member can be inserted intothe cutting member receptacle and engaged with the cutting memberretainer and retained by the cutting member receptacle until the atleast one cutting member is threaded through the cutting memberreceptacle.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cutting memberretainer comprises a concave space at the channel-defining edge belowthe cutter outlet.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cuttingmember is a trimmer line.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecutting member is a blade.